Playing From Scratch

Using the chalk, draw a 3-foot by 3-foot square on the sidewalk or paved driveway.

Create a 3 x 3 grid by drawing lines going down and lines going across at the one-foot and two-foot marks.

Write a number 1 through 9, in each of the grid squares

One number per grid square

In any order

No repeats

Play:

The object of the game is to get the highest score possible.

Place the lid/cap on the ground outside of the grid.

Using your thumb and a finger flick the lid.

One attempt per lid/cap. There are no ‘do overs’ if the lid rolls or lands outside of the grid.

What if the lid lands on a line? No points.

Note: Feel free to change any of the rules. After all, it is your game.

Need more of a challenge?

Create a grid with more squares.

Create a grid with smaller dimensions.

Use two-digit numbers.

Use more lids/caps.

Add a rule that the lids/caps MUST land in a straight line (horizontal, vertical, and/or diagonal).

Want to play the game indoors?

Table Top Version

Draw the grid on paper and tape it down using painters’ tape

Floor Version

Use painters’ tape to create the grid on the floor.

Recipe for Sidewalk Chalk (Originally shared May, 2015)

Supplies:

Toilet paper tube

Small square waxed paper

Rubber band

Disposable large plastic cup

Wooden craft stick

Plaster of Paris

Corn starch

Tempera paint

Water

Make:

Secure a double thick piece of waxed paper at the end of a toilet paper tube with the rubber band.

In the disposable large plastic cup mix ½ cup plaster of Paris and ¼ cup corn starch. Slowly add ¼ to ½ cup water while stirring with the craft stick. Add tempera paint until the desired color is achieved.

Spoon mixture into prepared toilet paper tube. Set the tube upright (waxed paper side down) in an open container while the mixture cures or hardens. Once it is dry peel off the paper tube. It is now ready to use!

IMPORTANT NOT: Do NOT rinse cup in the sink!! Dispose of the cup with the remaining mixture in it. This stuff will clog sink!

Fold string in half. With strings together tie a couple knots at the fold.

Cut one string so that it is 2½ inches shorter than the other string.

To create the balls at the end of the strings, use two 12-inch x 12-inch pieces of aluminum foil.

Tape the end of one string to the center of a foil square. Scrunch the foil to make a tight ball.

Repeat with other string.

Note: Add another layer of aluminum foil if you feel more weight is needed.

OPTION:

Tie a plastic cap, the kind found on squeezable applesauce (see photo), on the end of each string and then cover the cap with aluminum foil.

Note: A wooden bead would also work.

Play:

The object of the game is to swing the balls in continuous vertical circles going in opposite directions.

How to hold the toy:

Stand with your dominant arm extending out in front of you with the back of the hand facing outside, as if you were going to shake hands with someone.

Make a fist with your thumb on top of the fist and not crossing over your fingers.

How to play:

Hold the ball on the shorter string in your non-dominant hand.

Start moving your dominant hand in a rhythmical up and down motion to get the ball on the longer string going in a vertical circle. Note: You may need to a couple of circular motions by the wrist to get the ball going.

If you are holding the toy with the right hand, start the long string ball going in a counter clockwise path.

If you are holding the toy with the left hand, start the long string ball going in a clockwise path.

While keeping a gentle up and down motion going with your dominant hand and wrist, toss the ball on the short string in the opposite direction that the other ball is going.

If you are holding the toy with your right hand, the second ball will go in a clockwise direction.

If you are holding the toy with your left hand, the second ball will go in a counter-clockwise direction.

A steady up and down motion by the hand and wrist will keep the ball circling in opposite directions. Trial and error will let you know the best tempo for keeping the balls in motion.

According to Games of the World (1977) Nine Men’s Morris is one of the oldest board games in the world dating back to 1400 BC. Morris game boards have been found at the temple of Kurna in Egypt and at excavations of the first city of Troy.

Supplies: – 10” x 10” (minimum) piece of paperboard packaging (e.g., cereal box, gift box) or poster board or mat board – 18 bottle caps or milk caps: 9 of one color and 9 of a different color – Pen/Marker – Straight edge NOTE: The game can also be played by using a stick to create the game board in the sand or dirt; pebbles/shells/pinecones can be used for game pieces.

To make: Draw the following game board design onto the paperboard.

Characteristics of Morris games: – Morris games involve straight lines. – There are two parts to game play: (1) taking turns placing the game pieces onto the board and then, once all the pieces are on the board, (2) sliding a piece to an adjacent vacant point on the line. — The ‘jumping over’ of game pieces is not permitted. — A player may only move one piece during his/her turn.

How to Play: In both the placement and then movement of the game pieces, the object is get to three of your game pieces in a row (vertical or horizontal); this is called a ‘mill’. Every time a player forms a mill, s/he removes a game piece of the other player. Note: Unless there are no other pieces to take, a game piece may NOT be removed from a mill. Once a piece is removed it may not be returned to the game. A mill may be opened by moving a piece and closed by returning it to its former location, thus creating a new mill.

The game can be won in two ways: – Reducing the number of the opponent’s game pieces to two – Blocking the opponent from making further moves

To make: Put the two craft sticks together like a sandwich. Wrap the strips of paper completely around each end of the “stick sandwich.” Secure the ends of the paper with a piece of tape making sure the tape does not adhere to the sticks. • Slide out one of the sticks, keeping the paper in place on the other one. Carefully set the stick with the paper on the table. • On the empty stick, stretch the wide rubber band lengthwise from end to end. Carefully place the stick with the rubber band and set it on top of the stick with the paper. Do not put the rubber band stick inside the paper. • Wrap a small rubber band around both sticks at each end.

To play: Blow air through the small space between the sticks. Experiment with the amount of airflow to change pitches. Also try pinching the ends while blowing.

* This game was named by participants of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Kane and Kendall Counties in Illinois.

Supplies:

One panel of a cereal/cracker box

12 pebbles

Pair of dice

Marker

To make:

Divide and mark the plain side of the panel into 12 squares. Number the squares one through twelve.

To play:

The object of the game is to get a pebble in each of the twelve boxes.

Before you begin the game, think about the following situations and establish a rule.

Can’t place a pebble: There will be times when a pebble cannot be placed. Does that mean the game is over? Or is this similar to baseball where each player gets three strikes? If there are two or more players, should this result in that person losing the game?

Doubles: What happens when a double is rolled? Does that person get an extra roll? Or does it mean the player loses a turn?

To begin play, roll the dice. Decide where pebbles should be placed. There are three choices:

Combine the numbers on each die and put a pebble on the sum

Subtract the lower die from the higher die and put a pebble on that number

Cover two numbers – one for each die.

This game can be played:

Solo

Competing against another person

As a group where each person takes a turn rolling the dice. If a play cannot be made that person is out.

In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our Playing from Scratch game this month is Las Chivas, a variation of the game matatenas or as commonly known in the United States, jacks.

Supplies:

10-20 pebbles or dried beans

Note: The number of pebbles is determined by the size of the player’s hand.

A wide, shallow bowl or box lid

If played outside a wide, shallow hole can be dug in the ground

To Play:

Place the bowl on the ground.

Designate a ‘tossing line’ about 6-to-8 feet from the bowl.

While holding all the pebbles in one hand, Player 1 stands at the ‘tossing line’ and gently tosses all the pebbles simultaneously toward and hopefully into the bowl. S/he then walks up and removes ONLY the pebbles that are in the bowl. These are then placed on the back of her/his dominate hand. Once these are balanced on the back of the hand the pebbles are flipped into the air and caught in the palm of the same hand. Count the number of pebbles caught. It is now the next player’s turn.

To Make:

Target:

Arrange boxes around the cylindrical container until a desirable fit has been achieved.

Avoid creating a space large enough for the ball to slip through.

Measure the height of the cylindrical container. Use this measurement for the height of the boxes; mark and cut. Using tape, cover the cut edges of the boxes. Place boxes in predetermined arrangement around the cylindrical container. Tape together where possible. Using marker assign points to each section.

Tape Ball:

Wad newspaper into a ball. Wrap with tape. To Play: In an open area set target on the floor or ground. Determine the distance from which the ball or bean bag is to be thrown. Determine what constitutes a “win” (e.g., highest/lowest number of points in ten throws; first person or team to reach 20 points) *The objective of “Squaring the Circle” is to construct a circle, calculate its area, and then construct a square with the same area using only a compass and straight edge.